For several days, thousands have gathered in France every evening to commemorate 11-year-old Lyhanna and protest what many see as a serious failure of the French justice system.
Large demonstrations have taken place in Saint-Jean-d'Angély, where the girl lived, as well as in Paris, Marseille, and Toulouse. Many participants say that public authorities and state institutions failed to protect the child.
Lyhanna disappeared at the end of May. Witnesses reported seeing her get into a car near her school shortly before she went missing. Last Thursday, her body was found in an abandoned grain silo.
The vehicle's owner, Jérôme B., is a local resident whose daughter reportedly attended the same school as the victim. He is said to have known the family and has since been placed in pre-trial detention and formally charged with murder.
What has particularly shocked France, however, is not only the murder itself but also the information that emerged about the alleged perpetrator. Reports indicate that several complaints had already been filed against Jérôme B. long before Lyhanna's death.
These complaints reportedly included allegations of sexual abuse and the rape of a minor. Despite the seriousness of these accusations, authorities are alleged to have taken little or no action for an extended period.
French media reports suggest that the suspect had not even been formally summoned for questioning by the police. These revelations have further fuelled widespread public outrage.
At demonstrations across the country, many participants have expressed frustration that action was not taken sooner. For many protesters, the case has become a symbol of perceived shortcomings in the justice system's response to violence against children.
Similar criticism has come from child protection organisations. Michele Creoff, a representative of the French organisation Union pour l'Enfance, questioned whether France has an effective national strategy in place to protect children and coordinate interventions. She argued that there appears to be a lack of clear leadership among the institutions responsible for addressing such cases.
France's justice system has long been criticised for being understaffed and slow, with many cases reportedly taking months or even years to progress through the courts.
According to child protection advocates, these delays are of particular concern in cases of violence against children, where timely intervention is crucial.
In response to the public outcry, the French government has announced an internal investigation into more than 70,000 ongoing cases of violence against children.
The authorities have also stated that investigations of this nature should be completed within a maximum period of three months in the future.
Speaking on behalf of President Macron, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon acknowledged serious failures, stating that significant institutional shortcomings were evident. She stressed the need to identify individual responsibility and address any underlying systemic issues within public institutions.
Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced plans to strengthen child protection legislation currently being debated in parliament. Under the proposed changes, repeat offenders convicted of raping children could face life imprisonment, replacing the current maximum sentence of 20 years.
However, many activists and family advocacy groups argue that these measures do not go far enough. They are calling for additional oversight, comprehensive reform of the child protection system, and increased resources for the police and judicial system.
